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"My name is Penpan Wangviwat. I am the owner of a celadon ceramics workshop, which was founded in 19... read more
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Thailand Artisan Empowerment Hub
In Thailand, artistic skills and traditions have b ... about
Penpan handcrafted celadon ceramics
"My name is Penpan Wangviwat. I am the owner of a celadon ceramics workshop, which was founded in 1976 as a part of other family endeavors. My passion for nature and the traditional lifestyle that has surrounded me has helped me to discover the art of pottery with the charm of ancient ceramics, such as the unearthed celadon wares from Thailand's Sukothai period.
"Celadon is a name for an ancient Chinese innovation in ceramics discovered over 2000 years ago. I've been fascinated by the beauty of celadon ever since I was a student. At that time, I saw many famous traditional handicrafts, such as Thai silk, cotton, pottery, and wood sculptures.
"In 1976, my friend and I started a small ceramic workshop for crafting celadon ware. We didn't know much about the process at first but, by learning from some craftsmen from older generations, we studied and improved our techniques. We started with just one ceramic kiln and 10 assistants. Our first line of products included plates, bowls, mugs, vases, and small home decor pieces that we sold to local people and tourists.
"Our main strength is that we try to preserve the authentic celadon glazing mixture formula, which comes from two kinds of wood ash mixed with topsoil obtained from freshly harvested rice fields. The greenish color of celadon gives the each piece a glossy surface that is as beautiful as jade, without the use of chemical pigments. Celadon involves a reaction of the natural organic substances blended with the atmosphere of the high-temperature kiln. The position of each piece in the kiln is also a major part of the glazing process. The age of the two kinds of wood that provide the ash also influences the color shading. Each part of the process influences the others and is, in turn a characteristic of the standard green celadon. Charming in its glossy, but uneven color, celadon features a unique crackled surface, making each new piece distinct from the rest.
"Due to Thailand's deforestation, the two kinds of wood that we used became rare. Also, the firing control technique has become too complicated to be competitive in the marketplace. Because of this, we use waste wood, such as reclaimed longan wood, among others. We have had to adjust the mixture formula and improve our design while suiting customers' tastes at the same time.
"The workshop is my family's livelihood, and my daughter is my successor. I help with general operations, marketing, and standards. We have several departments, such as soil, glazing, molding, designing, etc. Teamwork is the most important element in handicrafts, and you need to be careful every step of the way. Today, we have more than 80 working with us, including both craftsmen and store staff. Most of them come from the San Kamphaeng area. I think people in this area have artist blood; they're kind, humble, and fast learners. Our craftspeople pass their experience on to friends and coworkers in order to keep our original formula, and they're happy to preserve this tradition.
"Celadon has its own identity and value. This green color is never outdated for people who are fascinated by it. Sometimes we get large orders from customers, but they understand that we cannot make our pieces for a discount because they are made entirely by hand.
"We will try harder to create products that suit every generation and every era. We are also trying to preserve 'green' concepts by not using any chemicals in our process.
"We carry on and will preserve the character of celadon's natural wood ash glazing without alteration, holding ourselves to a universal standard. We hope that our shoppers will be satisfied and treasure our totally handmade pieces, featuring traditional techniques that have remained unchanged over the years. It is a great pleasure to be part of this team of artisans."
Awards:2001 and 2003: Unesco – Ahpada 2001 Seal of Excellence for Handicraft Products in Southeast Asia
2014: World Craft Council (WCC) – Award of Excellence for Handicrafts 2014 South East Asia Programm
"Celadon is a name for an ancient Chinese innovation in ceramics discovered over 2000 years ago. I've been fascinated by the beauty of celadon ever since I was a student. At that time, I saw many famous traditional handicrafts, such as Thai silk, cotton, pottery, and wood sculptures.
"In 1976, my friend and I started a small ceramic workshop for crafting celadon ware. We didn't know much about the process at first but, by learning from some craftsmen from older generations, we studied and improved our techniques. We started with just one ceramic kiln and 10 assistants. Our first line of products included plates, bowls, mugs, vases, and small home decor pieces that we sold to local people and tourists.
"Our main strength is that we try to preserve the authentic celadon glazing mixture formula, which comes from two kinds of wood ash mixed with topsoil obtained from freshly harvested rice fields. The greenish color of celadon gives the each piece a glossy surface that is as beautiful as jade, without the use of chemical pigments. Celadon involves a reaction of the natural organic substances blended with the atmosphere of the high-temperature kiln. The position of each piece in the kiln is also a major part of the glazing process. The age of the two kinds of wood that provide the ash also influences the color shading. Each part of the process influences the others and is, in turn a characteristic of the standard green celadon. Charming in its glossy, but uneven color, celadon features a unique crackled surface, making each new piece distinct from the rest.
"Due to Thailand's deforestation, the two kinds of wood that we used became rare. Also, the firing control technique has become too complicated to be competitive in the marketplace. Because of this, we use waste wood, such as reclaimed longan wood, among others. We have had to adjust the mixture formula and improve our design while suiting customers' tastes at the same time.
"The workshop is my family's livelihood, and my daughter is my successor. I help with general operations, marketing, and standards. We have several departments, such as soil, glazing, molding, designing, etc. Teamwork is the most important element in handicrafts, and you need to be careful every step of the way. Today, we have more than 80 working with us, including both craftsmen and store staff. Most of them come from the San Kamphaeng area. I think people in this area have artist blood; they're kind, humble, and fast learners. Our craftspeople pass their experience on to friends and coworkers in order to keep our original formula, and they're happy to preserve this tradition.
"Celadon has its own identity and value. This green color is never outdated for people who are fascinated by it. Sometimes we get large orders from customers, but they understand that we cannot make our pieces for a discount because they are made entirely by hand.
"We will try harder to create products that suit every generation and every era. We are also trying to preserve 'green' concepts by not using any chemicals in our process.
"We carry on and will preserve the character of celadon's natural wood ash glazing without alteration, holding ourselves to a universal standard. We hope that our shoppers will be satisfied and treasure our totally handmade pieces, featuring traditional techniques that have remained unchanged over the years. It is a great pleasure to be part of this team of artisans."
Awards:2001 and 2003: Unesco – Ahpada 2001 Seal of Excellence for Handicraft Products in Southeast Asia
2014: World Craft Council (WCC) – Award of Excellence for Handicrafts 2014 South East Asia Programm
Handmade: A Global Artisan Marketplace Chiang Mai, Thailand
"My name is Penpan Wangviwat. I am the owner of a celadon ceramics workshop, which was founded in 1976 as a part of other family endeavors. My passion for nature and the traditional lifestyle that has surrounded me has helped me to discover the art of pottery with the charm of ancient ceramics, such as the unearthed celadon wares from Thailand's Sukothai period.
"Celadon is a name for an ancient Chinese innovation in ceramics discovered over 2000 years ago. I've been fascinated by the beauty of celadon ever since I was a student. At that time, I saw many famous traditional handicrafts, such as Thai silk, cotton, pottery, and wood sculptures.
"In 1976, my friend and I started a small ceramic workshop for crafting celadon ware. We didn't know much about the process at first but, by learning from some craftsmen from older generations, we studied and improved our techniques. We started with just one ceramic kiln and 10 assistants. Our first line of products included plates, bowls, mugs, vases, and small home decor pieces that we sold to local people and tourists.
"Our main strength is that we try to preserve the authentic celadon glazing mixture formula, which comes from two kinds of wood ash mixed with topsoil obtained from freshly harvested rice fields. The greenish color of celadon gives the each piece a glossy surface that is as beautiful as jade, without the use of chemical pigments. Celadon involves a reaction of the natural organic substances blended with the atmosphere of the high-temperature kiln. The position of each piece in the kiln is also a major part of the glazing process. The age of the two kinds of wood that provide the ash also influences the color shading. Each part of the process influences the others and is, in turn a characteristic of the standard green celadon. Charming in its glossy, but uneven color, celadon features a unique crackled surface, making each new piece distinct from the rest.
"Due to Thailand's deforestation, the two kinds of wood that we used became rare. Also, the firing control technique has become too complicated to be competitive in the marketplace. Because of this, we use waste wood, such as reclaimed longan wood, among others. We have had to adjust the mixture formula and improve our design while suiting customers' tastes at the same time.
"The workshop is my family's livelihood, and my daughter is my successor. I help with general operations, marketing, and standards. We have several departments, such as soil, glazing, molding, designing, etc. Teamwork is the most important element in handicrafts, and you need to be careful every step of the way. Today, we have more than 80 working with us, including both craftsmen and store staff. Most of them come from the San Kamphaeng area. I think people in this area have artist blood; they're kind, humble, and fast learners. Our craftspeople pass their experience on to friends and coworkers in order to keep our original formula, and they're happy to preserve this tradition.
"Celadon has its own identity and value. This green color is never outdated for people who are fascinated by it. Sometimes we get large orders from customers, but they understand that we cannot make our pieces for a discount because they are made entirely by hand.
"We will try harder to create products that suit every generation and every era. We are also trying to preserve 'green' concepts by not using any chemicals in our process.
"We carry on and will preserve the character of celadon's natural wood ash glazing without alteration, holding ourselves to a universal standard. We hope that our shoppers will be satisfied and treasure our totally handmade pieces, featuring traditional techniques that have remained unchanged over the years. It is a great pleasure to be part of this team of artisans."
Awards:2001 and 2003: Unesco – Ahpada 2001 Seal of Excellence for Handicraft Products in Southeast Asia
2014: World Craft Council (WCC) – Award of Excellence for Handicrafts 2014 South East Asia Programm
Thailand Artisan Empowerment Hub
In Thailand, artistic skills and traditions have been passed down from generation to generation. As you explore our Thailand Collection you will discover handwoven silks and hand embroidered textiles, celadon and benjarong pottery, teak carvings, lacquerware and exquisite jewelry. All are handcrafted in traditional and contemporary designs by talented Thai artisans.
5 Reviews for
Penpan
February 7, 2023
J
Jennifer
These were ordered as a gift for a new family member that is from Thailand and she loved that they were made in and by an artist in Thailand. They arrived on schedule and were packaged well. The artist included a note in Thai and she enjoyed reading it to us. The bowls were delicate but not so dainty you'd be scared to use them, and they absolutely do get used! The design and color is beautiful. B... read more
Reviewed itemFebruary 12, 2022
S
Sylvie
I fell in love with this mug. The contrast between the naked elephant and glazed surround is so unique and whimsical, along with the trunk being the handle. I bought it for a large auction to help raise money for an elephant sanctuary and everyone went crazy for it…there was a bidding war!!! I love Penpan’s work and clearly so do our supporters. I would rather support artisans & offer something u... read more
Reviewed itemFebruary 12, 2022
S
Sylvie
I bought this fun and whimsical mug for an auction to raise money for an elephant sanctuary. How perfect! I try to find unique items that are elephant themed and that supporters can’t find at big box stores. And everyone loved this much and a bidding war erupted! I love Penpan’s work and like supporting artisans.
Reviewed itemOctober 15, 2020
V
Valerie
I gave this gift to my nephew for his wedding. He and his wife love to fish and entertain so this was the perfect gift for them. Plus it came beautifully and uniquely wrapped.
Reviewed itemFebruary 7, 2023
J
Jennifer
These were ordered as a gift for a new family member that is from Thailand and she loved that they were made in and by an artist in Thailand. They arrived on schedule and were packaged well. The artist included a note in Thai and she enjoyed reading it to us. The bowls were delicate but not so dainty you'd be scared to use them, and they absolutely do get used! The design and color is beautiful. Beyond pleased!! Very lovely set!
February 12, 2022
S
Sylvie
I fell in love with this mug. The contrast between the naked elephant and glazed surround is so unique and whimsical, along with the trunk being the handle. I bought it for a large auction to help raise money for an elephant sanctuary and everyone went crazy for it…there was a bidding war!!! I love Penpan’s work and clearly so do our supporters. I would rather support artisans & offer something unique rather than buy something from a big box store.
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